Army and Navy Uniforms and Insignia / How to Know Rank, Corps and Service in the Military and Naval Forces of the United States and Foreign Countries

by Dion Williams

UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA OF MEMBERS OF
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS FIELD SERVICE

The authorized uniform for the members of the American Red Cross Field Service is made of cloth or serge of the same color as that used by the U. S. Marine Corps for winter field uniforms, the shade being a grayish olive green known as “forestry-green.”

For the officers, Division Directors of Military Relief and Assistants, Field Directors of Camp Service, Assistant Field Directors of Camp Service, Associate Field Directors, Hospital Service, Associate Field Directors, Home Service, and other Assistants, the uniform consists of an overcoat, Norfolk jacket, riding breeches, flannel shirt, black necktie, field hat or cap, grey gloves, and tan leather shoes and leggings or tan leather field boots.

The coat is a single-breasted, four-buttoned plain Norfolk jacket, of forestry-green cloth, having a notch collar and soft lapels, the skirts extending half way from the point of the hip to the bend of the knee, with a two-inch belt of the same material as the jacket stitched around the waist and a vent in the center of the back extending from the belt to the lower edge of the skirt. The jacket has four outside patch pockets with a two-inch box pleat down the center and a three-pointed flap fastened at the center by a small button. On each shoulder there is a strap of the same material as the jacket, let in at the top of the sleeve seam and reaching to the edge of the collar where it is buttoned with a small button, the dimensions of the strap being two inches in width at the shoulder seam and one inch in width at the collar end, the collar end being rounded. On each shoulder strap is worn a Greek cross of red cloth or silk embroidery, the cross being three-quarters of an inch over all and placed with its center one and one-eighth inches above the shoulder seam. All of the buttons are plain flat green buttons matching the color of the jacket. The initials A. R. C. in plain block letters of bronze are worn on each side of the collar one inch above the notch in the lapel. The various grades of officers are shown by stripes of black mohair braid sewn around the lower part of each sleeve of the jacket.

The breeches are of forestry-green cloth cut loose in the thigh and tight from the knee down, laced or buttoned below the knee with laces or buttons of the same color as the cloth of the breeches, with strappings of the same material or of buckskin of a color to match on the inside of the leg and knee.

The cap is of forestry-green cloth and of the same style and dimensions as the regulation cap for officers of the U. S. Army, the band covered with green mohair braid to match the color of the cap, the visor and chin strap being of dark tan leather and the buttons of plain bronze. A Greek cross of red enamel is worn on the center of the front of the cap.

The field hat is the same as that worn by officers of the U. S. Army and with it the officers of the American Red Cross wear a plain black hat cord.

The flannel shirt is of the same design as that worn by officers of the U. S. Army but the color is forestry-green. When the shirt is worn without the jacket the initials A. R. C. in bronze block letters and a small enamel red cross are worn on each side of the shirt collar, the letters being in front. A light weight shirt of madras or cotton of the same color and style as the flannel shirt may be worn.

The overcoat for officers is a double-breasted sack overcoat of knee length made of forestry-green cloth. It has a turn-down notched collar with soft lapels, two horizontal side pockets with straight flaps, and shoulder straps similar to those on the jacket but slightly larger. On each of these shoulder straps is worn a Greek cross of red cloth or silk embroidery. The buttons of the overcoat are plain bone buttons of a color to match the coat. On each side of the collar one inch above the notch in the lapel the initials A. R. C. in plain bronze block letters are worn. The various grades of officers are indicated by stripes of black mohair braid around the sleeves as in the case of the jacket.

The tan leather shoes, leggings and field boots are the same as those prescribed for the officers of the U. S. Army.